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The painful memories of Gtech Community Stadium have faded into the background for Chelsea following the lengthy international break, and Xabi Alonso's side are eager to kick their campaign into gear this October.
However, the Premier League rarely offers easy pickings, and Bournemouth will have little intention of rolling over for the leaky west London outfit on Saturday.
A weakened Chelsea were thoroughly outclassed by Brentford in their last outing, suffering a 3–0 loss, with Alonso under pressure to tighten things up. Some have advocated a switch to a back four, and the three-week hiatus could be the perfect opportunity to make that change.
Nevertheless, with the availability of several key players still uncertain, it appears unlikely that Alonso will make a sweeping tactical overhaul when the Cherries arrive in town.
Here's how Chelsea could line up on Saturday.
Chelsea Predicted Lineup vs. Bournemouth
GK: Emiliano Martínez—Chelsea's new first-choice keeper endured a more emotionally charged international break than most, as he and Argentina said goodbye to their greatest since Diego Maradona. Alonso will be hoping Martínez has his head fully in the game as he looks to keep Evanilson and company at bay.
CB: Wesley Fofana—It's been an inconsistent start to the campaign for Fofana, though remaining in west London during the break may have done him some good.
CB: Maxence Lacroix—Lacroix saw plenty of action under Zinédine Zidane's France, featuring in three of their four matches in the absence of William Saliba. Early indications suggest Lacroix could become a key figure for Zizou's Bleus going forward.
CB: Levi Colwill—The left-footed centre-back has stated that the challenges he has faced early in his senior career have made him "more experienced and a more mature head than probably most 23-year-olds." Chelsea fans are still waiting for Colwill to step up as the cornerstone of their backline.
RWB: Pedro Neto—Neto continues to be a valuable option for his national side, and may have welcomed the brief respite from wing-back responsibilities. Now it's time to get back to business.
CM: Reece James—Chelsea's skipper was among the notable absentees for the Brentford defeat, and consequently missed out on an England call-up. He is expected to return to fitness in time for this fixture.
CM: Moisés Caicedo—Jordan Henderson will not be featuring in midfield this weekend, with Moisés Caicedo set to make his first start of the season. He has been carefully managed back to full fitness, and Alonso has confirmed the midfielder is now ready to go.
LWB: Pep Chavarría—The summer signing is still finding his feet at Chelsea, but he at least brings more dynamism than converted centre-back Jorrel Hato. Marco Palestra could also be in contention for Alonso.
AM: Cole Palmer—His withdrawal from the England squad is not expected to result in any absence for the Blues. Palmer was spotted making his way to Cobham ahead of Saturday's clash, and he'll be looking to spark Chelsea's attack against the Cherries.
AM: Morgan Rogers—Rogers's bright start at his new club came to an abrupt halt against Brentford, and he was given limited minutes by Thomas Tuchel during the international window. He did, however, contribute an assist for Harry Kane against Czechia on Tuesday—a precise first-time delivery across the penalty area.
ST: Danny Welbeck—João Pedro remains the biggest uncertainty for Chelsea ahead of the match, with contradictory reports circulating. Some suggest his knee problem could sideline him until late October, while others believe the Brazilian may be available as soon as Saturday. Either way, Welbeck is ready and waiting in reserve.